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Tokyo Metro Fares and Ticket Prices
Tokyo has two metro operators running 13 lines side by side: Tokyo Metro (9 lines, privately operated) and Toei Subway (4 lines, municipal). Together they cover 285 stations and carry around 8 million passengers a day. The network opened in 1927 with the Ginza Line - the first metro in Asia - and is known for a punctuality record that most railways in the world can only dream about.
Tokyo Metro Operating Hours
How to Pay on the Tokyo Metro
Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card at any JR East ticket machine or Tokyo Metro machine. You load money onto it and tap in and out at every gate. Both cards work across Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, JR lines, most buses, and even at convenience stores and vending machines.
Fares are calculated by distance. The minimum fare on Tokyo Metro is around 180 yen (roughly USD 1.20) and rises with each additional zone crossed. Paper tickets are available but IC cards are cheaper and much faster.
Tokyo Metro and Toei are separate companies with separate fares. If you transfer from a Tokyo Metro line to a Toei line, you pay a new base fare unless you buy a combined day pass. The Common One-Day Ticket (900 yen) covers both operators and is worth it if you plan more than five or six journeys.
Every platform has screen doors that open only when the train arrives. Stand behind the yellow tactile strip, let passengers off first, then board calmly. The queuing process is orderly and taken seriously.
Rush hour (07:30 to 09:30 on weekday mornings) is extremely crowded on lines like the Tozai, which has been measured as the most congested in the world at around 199 percent capacity. If you can adjust your timing by 30 minutes either way, do.
Station names are shown in Japanese, hiragana and romaji (English letters) everywhere - on platforms, inside trains and on the maps. The network is genuinely easy to navigate even if you cannot read Japanese.
Travel Tips for Tokyo
Pick up your Suica card at Narita or Haneda Airport the moment you land. It saves time at every gate, works on buses to your hotel and can be used to pay at combinis (convenience stores). You can top it up at any station.
The 24-hour (800 yen), 48-hour (1,200 yen) and 72-hour (1,500 yen) Tokyo Metro tourist passes cover unlimited travel on all nine Tokyo Metro lines. They are sold at airport stations and are good value on sightseeing-heavy days in central Tokyo.
Large suitcases should go in a coin locker at your arrival station before you start exploring. Taking big bags onto a crowded rush-hour train is considered very inconsiderate, and the lockers at major stations are easy to use.
Eating and drinking on the metro is not done. Talking on the phone is frowned upon. Phones should be on silent (manner mode). These norms are universally observed and visitors who follow them are appreciated.
The last trains on most lines run between midnight and 00:30. After that, taxis are available everywhere but expensive - a cross-city journey can easily cost 3,000-5,000 yen. Plan your evening with the last train time in mind.
The JR Yamanote Line, which loops around central Tokyo, is not part of Tokyo Metro but accepts the same Suica card. It connects Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Ebisu, Meguro, Shinagawa, Tokyo, Akihabara, Ueno and Ikebukuro - all the major hubs.
Accessibility
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Tokyo Metro cost?▾
With an IC card (Suica or Pasmo), the minimum fare is around 180 yen. Most journeys across central Tokyo cost between 180 and 320 yen. A tourist 24-hour pass for the nine Tokyo Metro lines costs 800 yen. The Combined One-Day Ticket for both Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines costs 900 yen.
What is the difference between Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway?▾
They are two separate metro companies that share stations and look almost identical to passengers. Tokyo Metro is privately owned and runs nine lines; Toei is run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and runs four lines. Your Suica card works on both, but a transfer between the two operators is charged as a separate fare unless you have a combined day pass.
Do I need a Suica card or can I buy paper tickets?▾
You can buy single paper tickets at machines in every station, but an IC card is strongly recommended. It is cheaper (small discount on every journey), far faster at the gate and works on every rail line in Japan, most buses, and for small payments at shops. Buy one at any JR East machine for a 500 yen deposit, or at Tokyo Metro machines.
How do I get from Narita Airport to Tokyo by metro?▾
The metro does not reach Narita. Your best options are the Narita Express (N'EX) train from Narita to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Tokyo station (55-90 minutes), or the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori and Ueno (41 minutes). Both accept IC cards or separate tickets. From Ueno or Shinjuku you can connect to the metro.
What time does the Tokyo Metro close?▾
Most lines run from around 05:00 to between midnight and 00:30. The last trains on every line are clearly posted at each station and shown in the apps. There is no night service. After the last train, taxis are the main option.
Is the Tokyo Metro accessible for wheelchair users?▾
Most stations now have elevators - around 248 of 285 stations are step-free. Every train car has priority seating and designated wheelchair spaces. Platform screen doors align precisely with the carriage doors, making boarding straightforward. Accessibility has improved dramatically since the 2000s.